June 23, 2010
As any golfer will tell you, spending a day on one of the most
beautiful and exclusive private courses on Long Island is an
opportunity not to be missed. The 3rd Annual Father Dorr Golf
Classic was held at the Garden City Country Club on Monday, June
21, 2010 with more than 135 alumni and friends participating to
raise over $190,000 for scholarships to benefit deserving St.
John's students.
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Formerly known as the Newman Golf Classic, this popular event is
named in honor of Rev. James F. Dorr, C.M. '79GEd., who has served
as the driving force behind this popular event since its inception
23 years ago. The funds raised have provided scholarships for 65
students, many of whom benefitted from this assistance throughout
their entire time at St. John's.
"I've been a priest for 52 years, and I've been at St.
John's for 35 of those years," remarked Fr. Dorr. "The mission of
St. Vincent de Paul was to reach out to the needy, and since the
purpose of the Golf Classic has been to provide scholarships for
needy students, I feel that we're putting St. Vincent's mission
into action in a very real way. This event has always been special
to me, because of the students that we've helped over the
years."
One such scholarship recipient is Kelly Fargo, a senior in St.
John's The School of Education majoring in Elementary
Education. "The Fr. Dorr Scholarship means a lot to me," she
said. "It's given me so many opportunities that I wouldn't have had
otherwise. Last fall I was able to study abroad as part of the
Discover the World Program, which was a fantastic experience. I was
also able to become a cheerleader and spend my time giving back to
the University rather than working at a job as many students do.
I'm very grateful to St. John's, and especially to Fr. Dorr, for
what they've done for me."
Serving as Chairperson of this year's event, William J. Murray
'85CBA noted that, "I've been involved in the Golf Classic for many
years, both personally and at the corporate level. When Fr.
Dorr graciously asked me to be Chairperson, I was privileged and
honored to accept. Fr. Dorr has really been our family priest over
the years. He's christened my children, married my nephew and
been with us in good times and bad. He and St. John's have been
great to me, and if I can help to bring more students into the
University family, I'm privileged to do so."
As
the final foursome left the green, golfers and non-golfers enjoyed
a private cocktail reception and dinner. The tremendous affection
for Fr. Dorr coupled with a deep sense of gratitude to the
University was apparent throughout the evening.
"Fr. Dorr has been a real personal and family friend since 1975,"
agreed Paul J. Reilly '79CBA. "He's been a constant in our lives,
both at times of celebration and times of consolation, which makes
him a very special person to me. I'm also grateful for the
opportunity to give something back to the University. I find it
amazing that St. John's mission hasn't changed since I started as a
student there more than 30 years ago. It's always been about giving
young people an opportunity to get a good education, and many of
them are the first in their family to do so. That's something I
believe in, and something I'm proud to support."
One factor that has consistently set St. John's apart from other
institutions is the University's Vincentian tradition of reaching
out to the needy of our society. That commitment has always been
reflected in a willingness to offer academically deserving students
a superior education, based upon their potential for success rather
than their ability to pay.
It is a philosophy that resonates strongly within the alumni.
Joseph A. Tarantino '80CBA has a deep affinity for St.
John's on a variety of levels, and welcomed the opportunity to
participate in this annual activity as a means of giving back to
the University that means so much to him. "I've been attending this
event for close to 20 years," he noted. "St. John's is very special
to me. I met my wife here, and we both have a lot to thank St.
John's for. We both had a great time while we were there, and we
both feel that we have so many reasons to want to give something
back to the University. And since Fr. Dorr has been so close to
both of us, being a part of this event is even more
enjoyable."
Before the evening drew to a close, alumni submitted their bids in
a silent auction for a variety of valuable items, including sports
memorabilia and the opportunity for a day of golf at some of the
area's most exclusive private clubs. As with everything else, the
money raised went directly to scholarship support for St. John's
students.
For William K. Lavin '65CBA, '92HON, coming together with other
alumni who recognize and have shared in the uniqueness of the St.
John's experience is a reflection of a profound commitment to pass
that experience along to other young men and women who are today
where he was many years ago. "When I look back on my education at
St. John's, I realize that I was given something very special," he
said. "I feel that unless I give it back to others, I really
haven't received it at all. What Fr. Dorr has done over these 23
years is phenomenal, and I've been fortunate enough to be here for
20 of those years."
For additional information about golf outings and other events of
interest to alumni, please call Mark Andrews at (718) 990-5897 or
e-mail andrewsm@stjohns.edu.